Wedding Inspiration Blog

Groom

If you’re looking for men’s wedding gifts, you’ve come to the most helpful place! Have you ever thought how hard it is to buy gifts for men? Well, regardless, this is a round up of the 5 best men’s gifts you can give. Included in this round up are stag gifts, groomsman gifts and men’s wedding favours.

1. The Groomsman Survival Kit

By Men’s Society, the place to get handmade, thoughtful gifts for men and women, the Groomsman Survival Kit is filled to the brim with essential wedding day items. A useful, quality gift for the Groom and Best Men, sure to put a smile on their face on one of the most nerve-wracking days of their lives!

What’s in the box?

Emergency Wedding Ring
A bronze back-up, just in case!

Manly Hankie
At weddings, tears flow.

Stainless Steel Pocket Comb
For beards and head hair alike.

Toothbrush and Toothpaste
For a quick after-canape freshen up.

Shoe Cleaning Fluid and Cloth
Probably one of the most forgotten items on the big day.

2. The Stag Survival Kit

Here’s another suggestion by Men’s Society, the place to get handmade, thoughtful gifts for men and women. The Stag Survival Kit is packed full of essential stag event items. A humorous, but useful gift for the stags heading off on rowdy or classy stag weekends alike!

3. Men’s Wedding Gifts: Personalised Wooden Watch

This beautiful wood and leather crafted watch is a perfect gift for pretty much every one on your male wedding party list! The watch can be personalised with the words of your choice, making it perfect for a father of the bride wedding gift, for the groomsman or best man/men.

At just £29.99 per watch, it’s a wonderful, low-cost choice of men’s wedding gifts.

5. Personalised Engraved Leather Wallet

This personalised engraved leather wallet with bow tie motif is the absolutely perfect fit for men’s wedding gifts. They would make a really great keepsake, and can be personalised with any text you like. At under £20 a wallet, not only is it useful, it’s thoughtful and shows you appreciate them being part of your special wedding day, and it won’t break the bank!

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There’s actually so much more involved in a wedding day than just the dress, the venue, and the guests. There’s so many intricate little details that you need to remember in the months before the wedding day.

A lot of it is thinking about what needs to be hired to have the perfect day. When you start jotting it down, you’ll feel as though the price will just keep going up and up. But fear not, as expensive as weddings are, it’s the price you pay to have the most magical day, one you will remember forever. So, if you’re struggling to think of what to hire for your wedding day, here’s a few ideas for you.

Furniture

If you’re having the wedding reception in an indoor venue that usually hosts them, then chances are that they’ll be able to provide the furniture for you. But, there are some locations that you might like to chose that would mean you would have to look into furniture hire for the event.

For example, if you were looking at choosing an outdoor venue for the reception, you would need to hire a few things. But an outdoor wedding reception, providing the weather is nice, would be one of the nicest things you can do. With the sun shining, everyone outdoors having fun, and you can make it look absolutely amazing as night starts to fall. A cool idea would be to hire a barn conversion, fill it with hired furniture, and have a hog roast and buffet to feed your guests. It’s something alternative and more relaxed to the usual formal meals.

Dresses & Suits

Some of you girls reading this will be massively against this idea, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t hire the dresses, or especially the suits. They’re so so expensive to buy outright, and you know you’re hopefully only ever going to wear that wedding dress once.

So, rather than spending thousands on something that will only sit in the loft for years and years to come, why not just rent and give it back a few days later. You still have the photos to look back on, and you’ll still look just as lovely on the day. It’ll just mean you’ll be spending hundreds rather than thousands, and you should always be looking to save money when it comes to a wedding where possible.

Fun Extras

A wedding wouldn’t be a wedding without the fun little extras you can add to make the whole day a little bit better. If you know you’re having children there for hours at a time, keep them entertained with a children’s entertainer. You could have a superhero or disney princess to keep them entertained!

As for the adults, fun little additions such as photo booths taking funny pictures, some companies include props to make the best pictures. Or you could have something a little more fancy such as a champagne waterfall, meaning all the guests can pretty much have champagne on tap!

There is something romantic about spring weddings. They are full of greenery and flowers, and you can enjoy some sunshine as well. While the weather in the spring is less predictable, you can still enjoy an outdoor reception, but need to have a Plan B, just in case there is a rain cloud heading your way on the special day. You can also wear your stunning dress without the long sleeves, and go on a ride in a convertible if you feel like it.

Spring weddings can be great for couples who want to save money on their honeymoon and avoid the peak autumn season for the best prices. Find out below what you need to do the plan the perfect spring wedding

1. Choose the Venue Carefully

Even if it is warm outside most days, you might want to have a plan B when organising an outdoor wedding. You can have a tent set up just in case the weather turns cold, or there is some rain, and make sure that you get some portable heaters that you can install in the wedding marquee. Choose tables and chairs that are easy to move indoors in case you have to escape from the rain. If you hire a venue with an outdoor seating area, make sure you can use the indoor meeting room, too, when you need to.

2. Floral Themed Wedding Stationery

Spring is all about bloom and glory. You should use floral patterns on your stationery and decoration, including the name cards and invitations. Add some colour to the tablecloths, and don’t settle for the boring white or silver. A discreet floral pattern will go a long way. Add dried flowers to your napkin rings and placemats, or create your signs using flowers.

3. Seasonal Flowers

The good news is that in the spring there will be no shortage of flowers, and they will be cheaper than during the winter. Choose the ones that are in season, such as tulips to save money, and start growing some yourself in the garden to put on the table. The sooner you order your floral decorations for your wedding the better price you will get, so don’t leave it to the last minute. If you are an outdoor lover, you can pick your own wildflowers for a romantic theme.

4. Choose Your Photoshoot Location

The best thing about having a wedding in the spring is that you will have plenty of options when choosing your photoshoot location for your wedding photos. You can visit your local park, the garden of a nearby castle, or your favorite landscape in your hometown. Whichever you choose, you need to make sure there are plenty of greens, yellows, and oranges to compliment your photos. A local botanic garden can be the perfect wedding photo location, but you need to make sure you get the lighting right.

5. Colourful Food and Edible Flowers

To make the atmosphere of your wedding more joyful and pleasant, go for colourful food. Add colour to your cake, and use different fresh vegetables to decorate the plates. Get a large bowl of colourful fruit salad made, and add plenty of jelly for kids attending your reception. Edible flowers can give you an opportunity to add colour and flavor to your dishes, and they can impress even the most picky of your friends. Add pansies to your salads, and roses to your seafood for colour.

6. Floral Bridesmaids’ Dresses

To make the most out of your spring theme, you can break up with traditions, and get a floral patterned material to get your bridesmaids’ dresses made to measure. Use bold and vivid colours, so they perfectly complement your own dress and they look good on your photos. Ditch the tiaras, and get natural flower crowns for everyone, based on their personality, hair, and eye colour. Get a flower bracelet for every guest made, so they can truly embrace your spring wedding theme.

7. Plan B for Rainy Days

It is important that you have a Plan B for when the winter does its worst. If you booked an outdoor venue, have another one in place just in case. If you are planning a beach wedding, make sure that the reception venue is also available, or the hotel can supply you with alternative weatherproof accommodation, or your wedding can be ruined by rain.

8. Get the Lighting Right

Getting the lighting right in the night and during the day is equally important. Sit down with your wedding photographer to ask them what type of lighting they need for each location. If you are having a church wedding, make sure that you choose a time of the day when there is no direct sunlight on the altar, or your wedding photographer will have a hard time to make the most of your pictures. Likewise, with outdoor pictures, you need to make sure you visit the sites when you can make the most out of natural light.

9. Choose Your Wedding Dress Wisely

When it comes to finding a Bespoke Wedding Dress, you need to be prepared for all events. First of all, you should feel comfortable and warm enough. Wedding dresses that come with a bolero are a great choice for the spring, as they will keep you warm when you need extra cover, and help you make the most out of your dress when it is warm. You can also get special blazers or coats ordered with your dress that matches the style, so you can go for the sleeveless tailoring, but don’t have to freeze waiting for your ride to turn up.

Spring weddings can be unforgettable, and represent a new start. Make the most out of the abundance of greenery and flowers, as well as the natural light. Plan for rain and storms just in case, but have a positive attitude. Use flowers to create unique decorations and make your wedding as colourful as possible, so you and your guests will remember the day for many years to come. Spring weddings can be fun, colourful, and full of joy.

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Weddings are a special day for everyone, and making your wedding memorable is a concern for anyone getting married. Whether you having a huge flash wedding, or a quiet and intimate one, there are some ideas and things here that anyone can try or incorporate into their big day. There are so many different kinds of weddings and so many different kinds of couples too, and so wedding vary so much. Some essentials don’t change, however, so make sure you include the basics when planning your wedding. Whether you have just been proposed to yesterday, or your wedding is next week, read on to find out how you can make your wedding a memorable one. Your wedding is to show your love and relationship to all your loved ones, and so will be an enjoyable day no matter what. Here are some ideas and things to consider to make your wedding an extra memorable day.

Choose a Theme

Many weddings can be simply traditional, and while this might be great for many people who like simplistic themes, there is so much potential for more! So many weddings have a white dress, an old church, but why not mix it up a bit?

Having your wedding reflect you and your partner’s personality can be a great way to make your wedding a memorable one. What kind of music are you into? What films do your enjoy? Why not have a 1950’s themed wedding, or have people dress up in a different way than usual? Your wedding can still be simplistic, romantic, without being too “out there”. There are lots of subtle themes, dresses, or decorations that could work really well at a wedding. Your wedding should reflect you both, and your relationship, so don’t be afraid to inject some fun and whimsy into your big day. Making your wedding different will make it a memorable day for everyone.

Plan

Wedding planning can be stressful, but not having a plan, or not having a solid enough plan, can really affect your day. You want to remember your big day for the right reasons, so make sure that you plan well in advance to make your wedding less stressful. A truly memorable day is one where you can sit back, relax, and just enjoy the occasion. Many people decide to hire a wedding planner for exactly this reason, so they can enjoy their wedding, especially if it’s big and needs a lot of preparation and management at the event itself.

Having a well planned wedding can make your wedding more stress free, and it means you can have the headspace to make fantastic memories with your loved ones. It might seems obvious but many people underestimate the time and effort put into arranging your own wedding.

Do Something Fun

Fun activities don’t have to be just for children, there are lots of fun things you can incorporate into a wedding party to keep adults entertained and merry. Why not have some wedding games, a temporary tattoo station, some cute animals, or some fire breathers? Parties are always fun, but why not include some great entertainment that will make your big stand out even more? Your wedding is a celebration of all the fun yet to come, so make sure you start the next part of your life off with a blast. There are loads of great ideas you could incorporate into a wedding party, so get racking your brains, and think about what you, your partner, and your friends and family do for fun.

Record the Occasion

Having a wedding photographer is pretty standard at most weddings, so make sure you have booked yours. It’s great to not only take pictures after the ceremony, but have them wander about during the celebrations too. During the party, there are bound to be some memories worth recording, and your photographer will no doubt capture these special moments. There are also loads of other ways to include photography. Why not hire a photo booth so your friends and family can take great pictures at their leisure throughout the evening? You could leave disposable cameras around the venue for your guests to use, and they will definitely capture some fantastic moments! Taking pictures is a great way to make sure the event is memorable, and those great memories are captured forever.

Pick an Outstanding Location

Location is extremely important at most weddings. Where you have your wedding ceremony or party can make the occasion very memorable in your own mind, and in the minds of your guests. A church is most people first choice. While it ca be beneficial to get married at your local church, your friends and family can all get their easily for example, but looking further afield can also have great results. If you still want a traditional church wedding, why not look for a spectacularly old church full of character?

Getting hitched at a location that’s not a church will definitely make your wedding a memorable one. This could include somewhere that has meaning for you both, like where you first met, or where you used to hang out early on in your relationship. Locations in nature are also very popular too, but can be a bit more unpredictable because of the weather. Getting married in woodlands or on a beach with dramatic cliffs in the background will make the day memorable for everyone. Location is so important when arranging your wedding, and making it a unique and enjoyable today for everyone, while making memories that will last forever.

Make Sure Everyone is Present

If you have family and friends that can’t make it to the event, make sure they are there, by showing the ceremony online. If your wedding is in a unique location across the world, this means that family and friends back home can see the ceremony without actually being there. Likewise, if you have family and friends that live abroad then they can see the wedding and don’t have to travel all the way across the country, or the world, to see it. There is so much technology out there that can bring us closer, so make sure you utilise it. Make your wedding a truly modern one, and make sure everyone can attend, by broadcasting it online. Your day will be memorable to everyone, even if they can’t be there in the room with you, they will still have fond memories of wedding ceremony and the day you got married to your partner.

Make it Unique

Personalise your wedding with little decorations and messages that mean something to you. These little things will make your wedding stand out, and will fill the day with meaning for everyone. A wedding is already a meaningful day, so why not include places where people can leave messages wishing you the best. You can look back on these notes years later, and be reminded of all the love and best wishes that your family and friends wanted for you. Recording these thoughts and feelings, and encouraging everyone to do the same, is a great way to remember the valuable thoughts and feeling that people had on your wedding day.

There are so many ways you can make your wedding a memorable one, so try any of these with your own to make it an extra memorable occasion. Planning will make the day less stressful and will also give you more time and headspace to make them valuable memories. Make your wedding unique, and everyone will remember your big day.

Life is made up of beautiful contradictions, but none are more glorious than the one surrounding your big day. You see, the day itself is going to be the most amazing, most significant, most joyous occasion of your entire being; the day that you are the love of your life finally tie the knot and sail off into the sunset, your white dress sparkling like a new star. However, to get there, you are going to have to endure one of the most testing periods of your life because this planning process is nothing but stress, stress and a ton more stress.

The bad news is, there isn’t much you can do to avoid this. The good news is, you can at least prepare for the worst so that you can ride it out when it comes. Basically, the fun you’ll have while choosing a dress is an anomaly because every other decision sucks.

We’re not trying to scare you, we’re just trying to prepare you for the momentary apocalypses that will blow up a few times. So, without further ado, here is a list of the most stressful decisions you’ll have to make while planning your meant-to-be perfect wedding.

Deciding On The Dress

We know we mentioned that this was one of the more fun decisions, but we were sort of half lying because it can be stressful. That’s because there is nothing worse than learning about all the different styles of wedding dresses, then taking two weeks to decide which style suits you best only to find out the dress you fell in love with looks terrible on you. It’s not the end of the world because there are plenty more dresses in the sea, but it is a stress.

Picking A Venue

This is naturally going to be stressful because the venue is going to be the biggest outlay; it is where you are going to spend the majority of your budget. But it isn’t just the money-stress, it is about which wedding venue is worthy of being your backdrop; a backdrop that will be immortalised in your wedding photos. Do you go with a Grade II listed mansion in the countryside? Or maybe a beach wedding in your favourite holiday destination? Maybe a marquee would suit you better? Or a just some chairs and an altar set up in a glade in some wood? The choices are infinite and that is stressful; like choosing dinner from a fantastic menu.

Writing Your Vows

What on earth are you meant to say to the person you absolutely adore, the person you are head over heels infatuated by, the person who is so ‘wow’ that no words can ever do them justice. Sure, you could go online and steal a Michelle Obama speech or maybe go through the pages of a Harry Potter book looking for magic and turn them into your vows, but what happens if you get caught out – either you’re a thief or a geek. It’s not exactly an ideal situation. All that and we haven’t even mentioned the audience. This is meant to be the most personal conversation you are ever going to have, and there are a ton of people watching you. We found talking in class terrifying, so this is unprecedentedly terrifying.

The bride has a plethora of options for her dress, the colour, style, period, design, material, etc. For some reason, there’s this misconception that wedding menswear only allows a certain few options to dress sharp for their wedding. You see it all the time with the long jacket with Victorian Era tailcoats, the usual drab colours of grey and black. This is simply not very adventurous. The feeling is that if men veer off too far from the usual dress code that they won’t look like that prince charming their women has been dreaming of. Things have vastly changed in the world of male dress suit. The materials are sharper and less baggy, and the fit is perhaps the most important thing. The aim is to outline and bolster the shoulders, and the lining will then run down into a V-shape. The waist is going to be neatly snug, and the trousers are going to be aligned with the anatomy of the body, such as hips or pelvis, knees, shins and the heel. There are some things you should consider making a part of your groom suit that you might not have been aware of.

Can’t find anything that fits

Well, of course, anything that you pick off the rack, will fit you, but it won’t at the same time. Some of your features may be supported and the outline of your body in that area, firmly emboldened. However, nothing you buy or rent from a store will truly compliment the portions and shape of your hips, arms, shoulder or legs in equal measure. The only possible way to get the best fit is to buy a tailor made a suit. Your measurements will be taken, to the absolute finite precision. You can talk with the expert tailor from Fielding and Nicholson about how you want to look in the suit. If you don’t want the arms to be tucked in tightly, closer to the armpit, you can communicate this. The same with the trousers; if you want something that is a little freer around the hip area, but snug around the legs, you can have this made specially.

Is a waistcoat necessary?

A three-piece suit is very traditional, and in fact, harks back to the 20th century when the Victorian Era of fashion was overtaking the previous centuries of Georgian fashion. Men’s fashion was suddenly shunning the overly large clothing that was in style in Europe, which was intended to show status and wealth. The waistcoat came about by trying to get masculine features to stand out more, by snuggly fitting the stomach and bolstering the chest. However, in modern suits where the jacket is actually loose, the need for a waistcoat is slowly being cast aside. If you workout or simply feel comfortable with your body, then a waistcoat is purely additional. A great, pure white dress shirt, with stiff buttons and a design that encircles the lateral muscles of the back, and supports the shoulders, is more than enough. If you’re intending to wear the suit unbuttoned, there is little need for a three-piece suit.

You have a great choice between the traditional and the contemporary. Victorian Era, men’s fashion, is still relevant but is sometimes seen as a bit over the top. It’s perfectly smart to go to your wedding, with an unbuttoned jacket, as long as the dress shirt fits well and compliments your features in the suit.

Wedding favours needn’t be little boxes of sugared almonds any more… Brides and Grooms are choosing unusual wedding favours such as temporary tattoos, alcoholic lollipops and personalised fortune cookies to shower their guests with. Personalised or unusual choices for wedding favours are now becoming the norm, and they needn’t cost you a fortune. From just a few pence to a few pounds, there’s a wedding favour choice for every budget available on the market right now. We’ve rounded up 37 of our current favourites! Which ones will you pick?

Fabulous wedding cake toppers like these from Confetti provide a beautifully easy way to spruce up otherwise plain wedding cakes. From the DIY money-saving couples to the whole-hog all-out splashing-of-cash couples, Confetti has a wedding cake topper to suit all budgets and tastes.